Just a few weeks ago, the Texas Longhorns announced that the football program had parted ways with defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. Since then, the Horns announced they had hired Will Muschamp to fill his role.
Now, reporters and members of the media are starting to ask players how they feel about the changes, and it has been difficult for anyone to admit that they're entirely settled with the situation.
When star linebacker Colin Simmons was asked about Kwiatkowski's departure, he couldn't help but express the fact that he'll miss his former DC.
"That one hurt a little bit with [Kwiatkowski] being my coach coming in from high school, putting me in the right positions to go make plays," Simmons said.
Longhorns have to adjust to Will Muschamp
Kwiatkowski was named the Longhorns' defensive coordinator in 2021 and built one of the most dominant defenses in the country, with Simmons playing a pivotal role over the last couple of seasons.
His departure was surprising, at the very least, and the name of his replacement was one of the more shocking moves in the world of college football this year. Muschamp was Texas's defensive coordinator under former head coach Mack Brown
Muschamp served as the team's DC from 2008 until 2011, when he took the job as the Florida Gators' head coach. He has bounced around collegiate football since then, but in the middle of December, he was named as Texas's DC once again.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has had a complete shuffling within his staff as one coordinator or staff member after another decided to leave the program.
So far, Kwiatkowski and defensive passing game coordinator Duane Akina were "let go." Director of Scouting Errin Joe, running backs coach Chad Scott, and analyst Tyler Allen all accepted jobs with other programs.
Not to mention, over a dozen players are expected to enter the transfer portal when it opens on January 2, including star running backs Quintrevion Wisner and C.J. Baxter as well as starting wideout DeAndre Moore Jr., linebacker Liona Lefau, and offensive lineman Connor Stroh.
The 2026 Texas football team is going to look very different than the 2025 team (both on the field and on the sidelines), but maybe that's exactly what the Longhorns need.